The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-07-14
Cultivation of Tea Roses.


The books either give difficult meth:
ods of caring for tea roses, or remark
casually that they are so cheap it is
not worth while to take much troubles
| know that few dollars spent each
year may in five years give bel OF
choice large bushes, with little lard
work. Start with deeply dug, weld
enriched plot, as wide as the length Of
greenhouse sash, (about six feet) and
once, twice or more times as long aa
the sash is wide, i. e., three feet, sic
feet, etc. Order the rose plants early,
but do not have them sent until proper
planting time, probably i'll May. Most
trustworthy houses will accommodate
customers in this way. Follow the di-;
rections OF any good catalogue i'm
caring for the plants, setting them out
in even rows, as near as you can Judge
wise. In autumn, as the first light
frosts come, protect the roots by
mu1chins with leaves and manure.
Save a good pile of leaves in some
place, where they will keep dry
Now make or have made, rude
frames, each side made in a separate
piece, with a mortice or grove at each
end of two pieces SO that the other
pieces can slide down into them.i
Then they have hook and screw eve
at each corner. In this way the frames
can be taken apart and piled away fiat
each spring, and will last for years.
These frames should be as deep from
front to back as a greenhouse sash,
and may be rs wide as one, or two
sashes, possible even nine feet. They
may be about three feet high at the
back, sloping little to the front. like
any roof.
Secondhand sashes can be bought
quite cheaply, and one can even turn
glazier in necessity, repairing broken
places Put the frames around the
roses as it gets colder, adding few
more leaves. Two persons can set up
these side pieces, and third can slip
in the back and front, even if it be-
'only n woman" and GwO children to
hold on. When real cold is to be ex-
pected, (abOut Thanksgiving time)
cover several inches deep with dry
leaves, lightly thrown on, and put on
the sashes; bank the frames with
leaves, litter manure, or anything,
SO as to make all compact. Tall
bushes may be pruned, and bent down
without injury. Put on mats, boards,
OF other protection, to guard the glass
against injury from heavy ice, ETC.,
but let this be only in the depth of
winter
Perhaps roses under single (three
feet) frames do Il little better than
under double frames, so put tender
sorts, and dwarf growers there
Queen Olga of Wirtemburg had last
autumn grown over six feet high, and
too large to clasp about for tying, so
my double frame was useful in giving
room for this bush to be bent down,
after being cut in severely
Safrano, Bon Silene, and Sprunt
roses have wintered thus for eight
years, and are fine bushes now Some
have died, but nearly always from
avoilable cause.
In the middle of April, tea roses un-
der'm frames have leaves and full
shoots. Outside, the first croeus
bloomed at the same time. To keep
roses dry over winter seems the first
secret of success. Gradual hardening
to as much cold as they will bear with
out blackening is also necessary [
am not yet done experimenting as to
early spring treatment, but incline to
keeping the glass over them rather
late, giving air in good weather, avoid
ing much dampness. So we may have
beautiful Tea and Bourbon roses, even
in the cold. land of the-Good House,
keeping.